1 Samuel 16:10-13 (NASB)
So Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the boys?” And he said, “The youngest is still left, but behold, he is tending the sheep.” So Samuel said to Jesse, “Send word and bring him; for we will not take our places at the table until he comes here.”
So he sent word and brought him in. Now he was reddish, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
Explanation:
Samuel is on a quest to find the next king of Israel, replacing King Saul. God has chosen David to be that replacement.
In today’s reading, we learn three things about David. He was chosen by God, chosen to be the next king of Israel. He was anointed (which means set apart) by God to fill that position. Lastly, the Holy Spirit came upon him so that he had the power to carry out God’s plan for him as king.
This passage also gives us a picture of how God carries out all His plans here on Earth today. The Bible tells us that God’s plans cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2). God makes plans and then chooses who He wants to use to make those plans happen. God then anoints, or sets apart, a person’s life to have the capacity and skill, and to be at the right place at the right time, to carry them out. Finally, God gives His Holy Spirit to lead and empower those people to do what He wants done.
We shouldn’t live in fear of what God’s plans are for us. He has specifically chosen us for those plans. We cannot fail because they are God’s plans, and anything He plans will come to fruition. We shouldn’t feel uncertain because of a lack of something in us, because God has set us apart, designated us, given us life experiences, and designed and shaped us to be able do the tasks He has chosen us to do. We shouldn’t feel anxious because God has given us His Holy Spirit to empower us to do these very tasks, to carry out these very plans. We cannot fail because God’s plans cannot fail. He is involved every step along the way, and it will happen as He designed it to happen.
Application:
Look back over your life. Think of the education you received or the relationships you've had or even the jobs you've worked at. What were some of the challenges you've overcome? What were some of the difficult circumstances you went through?
God uses everything from your past as building blocks to make you qualified to do the job He has chosen for you. How does understanding this truth help you to take advantage of the opportunities God places before you?
Prayer:
God, as we strive to learn Your plans for us, help us to approach them with the confidence that they are Your plans, and nothing can thwart them.